Author Archives: FreshAirPro

Ragweed is one environmental allergy that wreaks havoc on people's immune systems around the nation. According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, people affected by ragweed or hay fever tend to experience a wide array of symptoms ranging from sneezing and stuffy noses to itchy throats, swollen eyelids and even hives.

Unfortunately for many around the U.S., ragweed season is fast approaching, and this year, the pollen is taking names. The Plain Dealer reports ragweed pollen tends to spike in mid-August, and due to the heavy rains that hit much of the country this summer, it's expected that the ragweed count will be higher than it has in a long time.

While some might breathe easy at home thanks to a medical-grade air purifier like the IQAir HealthPro Plus, others might be interested in learning other ways to curb allergies' effects. The news outlet suggests people with known ragweed allergies take precautions - using eye drops and antihistamines - before the season spikes. This way, individuals can stop symptoms in their tracks.

Allergies are a common problem for many Americans. Whether families deal with environmental allergies such as grass or ragweed, or food allergies with peanut butter or milk, the majority of people understand the annoying symptoms of this problem. Unfortunately, the same side effects that plague kids and adults can also pop up in pets, making it more important than ever to learn the signs of pet allergies and ways to stave them off.

"Seasonal allergies are just as frustrating for pets as they are for humans," said veterinarians from Wadsworth Animal Hospital in Lakewood, Colo. "Since many skin conditions have similar symptoms, pet dermatology is essential to identifying the precise trigger for a pet's skin problem... "

There are many ways to evaluate if a pet has allergies, starting with monitoring the animal to check for any differences in its behavior. For example, a dog that is suddenly scratching or biting its skin more, sneezing or experiencing more build-up in its eyes could be living with allergies. CNN reports pet owners can help their allergic dogs and cats feel better by making sure the house is clean and free of dust mites and pollen. Vacuuming regularly, keeping the windows shut during peak allergy season and even investing in a medical-grade air purifier like the IQAir HealthPro Plus, can all help a dog or cat and the family feel better.

Asthma is one of the most common conditions in the U.S., affecting close to 19 million people. With such a presence, many wonder what causes the condition and if there are ways to prevent or curb its symptoms. According to a new study conducted by scientists from the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center and published in the American Journal of Physiology, asthma could be tied to individuals' maternal grandmother.

Researchers discovered that "maternal nicotine exposure" during pregnancy may be a cause of asthma in the third generation of a family. This leap, known as transgenerational linkage, is unique because it shows how a child who was never personally exposed to nicotine or smoking can still develop asthma as a result of his or her grandmother's habit.

"Even though there are multiple causes for childhood asthma, research linking this serious chronic condition to maternal nicotine exposure during pregnancy for up to three generations should give mothers-to-be even more reasons to reconsider smoking," said Dr. Virender K. Rehan, lead author of the study.

While it may be hard to change history after a child is born, parents can help ease the asthma symptoms their children are experiencing by investing in an air purifier such as the IQAir HealthPro Plus.

It's true in most cases that parents know what's best for their children. However, when it comes to figuring out how able a child is based on his or her asthma symptoms, sometimes it's the kids who know best. A new study conducted by scientists from UT Kids San Antonio and the Center for Airway Inflammation Research discovered it's important to include children in check-ups with physicians.

The findings, published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, were discovered after reviewing quality-of-life questionnaire answers from parents and 79 children with asthma. The survey asked the children to rate their own limitations due to asthma and their parents were asked to rate how the child's asthma affected or limited family activities.

From the results, researchers noticed caregivers were more likely to rate a youngster's asthma as more limiting to the family, but the kids usually viewed themselves as less impaired. While a parent might only be looking out for his or her child, the takeaway of the study is that children with asthma might be a better indicator of what they can and cannot do.

More than 7 million children in the U.S. are living with asthma, according to the American Lung Association. Even though kids might think they're immune to the side effects of the lung problem, it's important that parents help their kids breathe easy at home. Investing in an air purifier like the IQAir HealthPro Plus will ensure a child with asthma breathes fresh air at all times in the house.

In today's society, up to 15 million Americans are living with food allergies, while this allergy affects one in every 13 children under the age of 18, according to Food Allergy Research and Education. While these and other allergies can be regulated with EpiPens or by avoiding certain foods altogether, it can be hard for people with food allergies to go to eat out.

However, the worry of eating something with a trigger food in it may soon be avoidable thanks to a smartphone app and specialized cradle that is able to look for specific ingredients. Fox News reports researchers from the University of Illinois, Urban-Champaign, created the handheld biosensor that uses a series of lenses and filters to detect toxins, bacteria and even allergens in food by simply holding it over the item in question.

While the project is still in the experimental phase, it could be a valuable tool for people in the coming years. This is just the latest in tools to track allergies, as the MyAllergyTest, an at-home screening system that can test for up to 10 common allergies, was FDA approved in June.

The test checks for things like Bermuda grass, cat, cedar, house dust mites, ragweed and other allergens. While food allergies can be harder to track, those with environmental or pet allergies can breathe easier at home by investing in an air purifier like the IQAir HealthPro Plus.

In today's society, up to 15 million Americans are living with food allergies, while this allergy affects one in every 13 children under the age of 18, according to Food Allergy Research and Education. While these and other allergies can be regulated with EpiPens or by avoiding certain foods altogether, it can be hard for people with food allergies to go to eat out.

However, the worry of eating something with a trigger food in it may soon be avoidable thanks to a smartphone app and specialized cradle that is able to look for specific ingredients. Fox News reports researchers from the University of Illinois, Urban-Champaign, created the handheld biosensor that uses a series of lenses and filters to detect toxins, bacteria and even allergens in food by simply holding it over the item in question.

While the project is still in the experimental phase, it could be a valuable tool for people in the coming years. This is just the latest in tools to track allergies, as the MyAllergyTest, an at-home screening system that can test for up to 10 common allergies, was FDA approved in June.

The test checks for things like Bermuda grass, cat, cedar, house dust mites, ragweed and other allergens. While food allergies can be harder to track, those with environmental or pet allergies can breathe easier at home by investing in an air purifier like the IQAir HealthPro Plus.

It is no secret that China has one of the worst air pollution problems in the world, but new data suggests that the issue may be even more serious than previously thought. According to Bloomberg, some parts of China reported levels of airborne pollutants at more than three times the safe levels recommended by the World Health Organization.

The maximum safe limit for airborne particulate matter is 25 micrograms per cubic meter, but in 74 Chinese cities, levels routinely exceeded 76 micrograms for much of the first six months of 2013. Many of the worst-affected cities were found to be in the northern province of Hebei, one of China's most heavily industrialized areas and a key part the country's steel manufacturing sector.

According to the Xinhua news agency, China's southern provinces experienced significantly less air pollution last month than northern regions. In particular, the Pearl River Delta, an urban agglomeration in southern China, reported acceptable levels of airborne pollutants for most of June.

China's pollution crisis is significantly worse than conditions in the U.S., but the need to ensure air quality is as high as possible is no less serious. Concerned individuals may want to invest in an IQAir GC MultiGas medical-grade air filtration system for their home, particularly if they or their family members suffer from respiratory ailments such as asthma.

Although the issue of creating jobs and promoting economic growth is never far from the headlines, the controversy surrounding the proposed Keystone XL Pipeline has proven particularly divisive. In his latest comments on the matter, President Barack Obama reiterated that the environmental impact of the project remains a top priority for his administration, reports The New York Times.

The key issue at stake is the amount of carbon that will be deposited into the atmosphere if construction of the pipeline proceeds. Recognizing the fact that atmospheric carbon pollution is already a serious problem in many parts of the U.S., Obama said he would only authorize the project if the pipeline does not "significantly exacerbate" levels of carbon in the air. He added that Canada, where the Keystone XL Pipeline originates, could "potentially be doing more to mitigate carbon release."

According to Politico, Obama's remarks follow a series of comments on the accuracy of projected levels of airborne carbon that could be created by the pipeline. Speaking to Congressional Republicans, Obama said that some analyses of the project's environmental impact had been exaggerated.

Regardless of whether the pipeline will raise existing levels of carbon, there is little doubt about the need for families to protect themselves from the harmful effects of air pollution. Investing in an IQAir GC MultiGas medical-grade air filtration system is an excellent way for concerned individuals to ensure their domestic air quality is as high as it possibly can be.

Although the issue of creating jobs and promoting economic growth is never far from the headlines, the controversy surrounding the proposed Keystone XL Pipeline has proven particularly divisive. In his latest comments on the matter, President Barack Obama reiterated that the environmental impact of the project remains a top priority for his administration, reports The New York Times.

The key issue at stake is the amount of carbon that will be deposited into the atmosphere if construction of the pipeline proceeds. Recognizing the fact that atmospheric carbon pollution is already a serious problem in many parts of the U.S., Obama said he would only authorize the project if the pipeline does not "significantly exacerbate" levels of carbon in the air. He added that Canada, where the Keystone XL Pipeline originates, could "potentially be doing more to mitigate carbon release."

According to Politico, Obama's remarks follow a series of comments on the accuracy of projected levels of airborne carbon that could be created by the pipeline. Speaking to Congressional Republicans, Obama said that some analyses of the project's environmental impact had been exaggerated.

Regardless of whether the pipeline will raise existing levels of carbon, there is little doubt about the need for families to protect themselves from the harmful effects of air pollution. Investing in an IQAir GC MultiGas medical-grade air filtration system is an excellent way for concerned individuals to ensure their domestic air quality is as high as it possibly can be.

When children are diagnosed with respiratory ailments like asthma, environmental conditions are often one of the first things physicians look at as a determining cause. While there is little doubt that air quality can play a role in a child's likelihood of developing asthma, scientists believe that a single genetic abnormality may be predominantly responsible for the illness, reports Time magazine.

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Children's Center and the Johns Hopkins Institute of Genetic Medicine recently discovered that the same genetic aberration that causes Marfan and Loeys-Dietz syndromes, two highly rare tissue disorders, could also be responsible for virtually all allergy-related conditions, including asthma. Individuals with Marfan and Loeys-Dietz syndromes tend to have a much higher sensitivity to environmental allergens, which led the researchers to investigate the possible link.

"We found that these patients had a very high risk of developing not just one allergy, but all forms of allergic disease," said Pamela Frischmeyer-Guerrerio, an immunologist and lead author of the study, as quoted by HealthDay.

Further research will ultimately determine whether genetics plays a definitive role in people's likelihood of developing asthma and other allergic diseases. Regardless, individuals who want to minimize their exposure to airborne irritants may want to invest in an IQAir HealthPro Plus medical-grade air filtration system.